1. Swimming Cities

A ragtag band of artists and artisans throw these astounding spectacles in Brooklyn warehouse spaces, set to a soundtrack that leans toward grimy electronic music that will keep you dancing till dawn. Location varies; parties held biweekly. Next event: Hobo's Paradise at the Chicken Hut (169 Spencer St at Willoughby Ave, Bedford- Stuyvesant, Brooklyn; theoceanofblood.blogspot.com). Jan 29 at 10pm; $10.

Teresa Peters, 32, artist, East Village "These parties are like an adventure. Tonight they have the swing, and at the Great Indoors party [in November], they had heaps of really cool, homemade contraptions and rides—they had a swimming pool in there! I love that Swimming Cities creates things; you really feel that everyone puts in the effort to make something kinda special and extraordinary. It's the environment that fosters the adventure."

"Tonight I'm just hanging out with my friends, although I've met some new people, like that naked guy. I know I'm in New York when I'm hanging out and there's just a naked guy. I haven't tagged him [with graffiti], [but] I tried to stick the letter e from the office supplies on him."